Centrifugal atomizer



May 9, 1939.

H. A. KJOS CENTRIFUGAL ATOMIZER Filed Feb, 21, 1938 5 Sheets-She et 1 May 9, 1939. KJOS 2,157,416

CENTRIFUGAL QTOMIZER Filed Feb. 21. 1938 :s Sheets-Sheet? May 9, 1939. H. A..KJOS

- CENTRIFUGAL ATOMIZER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21,1938

llll J12 vmzm/ J70; A. JJ 'OS 1 Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

emcient for vaporizing certain deodorants or disinfective liquids.

The device involves the use of a rotary centrifugal elevator with spreader flanges for the discharge of the liquid in the form of a fine spray. The rotary elevator is of tubular form, and is made conical for increased efiiciency, and no is provided with a multiplicity of spreader flanges thatare preferably made conical but of much greater flare. than the body of the rotary elevating tube. As a highly important feature, the rotary elevator is provided with independent dis- 25 charge ports or passages leading therefrom to the several spreader flanges; and as a further highly important feature, .said elevator tube is provided with channel forming flanges that divide the upwardly flowing liquid into independent streams before it reaches the ports or discharge passages leading to the several spreader flanges.

Also, the invention involves a novel annular bottle or impact ring, against which the sprayed liquid will be projected and by which the projected liquid will be further vaporized. By means of a motor and a fan, air to be vaporized is circulated through the annular space between the rotary elevator, or spraying device proper, and the surrounding ballle, so that the air thus circulated will take up the vapor while the same is in its most volatile condition and before any condensation has a chance to take place.

The above noted andother minor features will appear in the description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section illustrating the complete device, some of the parts being shown in full;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the parts on a larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed and horizontal section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing in detail parts 5 found in the vicinity of the line marked 5-5 on Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated in connection with certain minor features and, as shown, the various parts of the device are mounted within a casing made up of a lower or base shell 6 and a superimposed vertical cylindrical or drum-like upper shell I to admit air freely into the lower compartment afforded by the base shell 6, the latter, as shown, is provided with air filtering wall portions 611. Located within the lower shell or compartment 6 is a water containing tank or receptacle 8, containing the liquid which, for the present purpose, will be considered as water indicated at W, but which, as above indicated, in some instances will be oil or other liquid.

Axially located within the upper shell I is an electric motor 9 positioned with its rotor shaft In vertically disposed. The shell of this motor may be supported in any suitable way, but, as shown, is supported by upper and lower brackets II, the arms of which, at their outer ends, are attached to the walls of the shell I by suitable means such as rubber or leather straps or bars I2 secured thereto and to lugs IS on the interior of said shell "I. To the upper end of the rotor shaft Ill is secured a fan l4; and to the lower end of said rotor shaft is secured 9. depending tubular shaft l5.

By reference to upper and lower section taken Fig. 1, it will be noted that the bracket arms ll radiate fromannular head plates 16 that are secured by screws I! or otherwise to the top and bottom of the motor casing 9. Also, it will be noted that sound deadening sheets of rubber it or the like are clamped between the said head plates l6 and the motor casing. Also, it may be here noted that the lower screws l'l rigidly secure a pair of depending hanger brackets ill to the bottom of the motor casing. The purpose of these brackets l9 will later appear.

The above noted tubular shaft I5 that depends from and is carried 'by the rotor shaft of the motor is provided with a lower portion which, as shown, is reduced in diameter, as indicated at I51 and that this shaft is intermediately provided with a rigidly secured head flange 20, best shown in Fig. 2. The depending portion l5a of shaft l5 extends axially downward into the inverted 55 rotary conical centrifugal elevator which, as shown. is a thin shell 2|, the upper portion of which is rigidly secured to the head flange and the lower end of which is contracted at 22 to form a valve seat having an axial intake port 23. At its lower end the reduced shaft section |5a is rigidly secured to the spider-like bracket 24 that bears against and is preferably secured to the contracted valve-seat-forming portion 22 at the lower end of said elevator 2|. At its upper portion the rotary centrifugal elevator 2| is provided with a multiplicity of quite closely positioned parallel outstanding annular spreader flanges 25. These spreader flanges 25 in some instancm might be substantially flat but are preferably conical but have much greater flare than the body of the elevator 2|. Opening through the wall of the elevator 2| into the spaces just above the several flanges 25 are outlet ports 25. For each spreader flange there must be at least one port 25 and there may be and preferably will be more than one. The uppermost port,

which delivers to the topmost flange 25, is shown as a notch 25a formed in the periphery of the head flange 20.

As a highly important feature, the elevator 2|,

at its upper portion, is formed with channel forming flanges 21 that extend downward from the head flange 20 to points below the lowermost port 25. The importance of this will more fully appear in the description of the operation.

Extended through and mounted for vertical movements in the tubular shaft |5-| 5a is a valve stem 28 which for lightness is shown as tubular but is closed at its lower end to form a valve head 29. When thevalve stem 28 is depressed, valve head 29 will engage the contracted valve seat-forming portion 22 at thelower end of the elevator 2| and will then close port 23. By vertical adjustments of valve stem 28 water intake port 23 can be opened to any desired extent.

For conveniently effecting the vertical adjustments of the valve stem 23 and its head 29, the following adjusting means is preferably employed, to wit: A pin 30 is passed diametrically through the upper end of the valve stem 28, see particularly Figs. 1 and 4, and works through longitudinal slots 3| in the tubular shaft i5 and with its outer end seated in a shipper collar 32 that slides freely on the exterior of shaft I5. This pin 30 causes the valve stem and collar 32 to rotate with shaft l5. Shipper collar 32 rotates in the channel of a shipper ring33 that has diametrically projecting trunnions 34 pivoted in the yokelike portion of a shipper lever 35 which, at one end, is pivoted to one of the hanger brackets IS. The other end of lever 35 is formed with a vertically spread fork 35 in which .works an eccentric 31 carried by the inner end of the shaft 38, that is journaled in the other hanger bracket l9 and in a bearing sleeve 39 on one side of the shell 1. In the structure illustrated, the shaft 38 is shown as provided with a flexible section 38a afforded by a piece of interposed flexible hose or tubing;

At its outer end shaft 38 is shown as provided with an operating knob 40 between which and the sleeve 39 is interposed a light coiled spring 4| that frictionally presses a collar 42 against the inner end of sleeve 39. This collar 42 is rigidly secured on the shaft 38 and under tension of spring 4| holds the eccentric 31 in differently set adjustments. Obviously, by adjustments of eccentric 31, the valve stem 28 and valve head 29 may be set in different adjustments. To yieldingly press the valve stem 25 downward, a coiled spring 43 is inserted in the tubular shaft i5 and compressed between the top of said valve stem and the depending end of the motor shaft ||I.

Secured to the upper shell I and surrounding the outer edges of the spreader-flanges 25 is an annular bafile formed by circumferentially spaced intersecting blades or surfaces 44. These blades 44, as best shown in Fig. 3, are at approximately right angles to the lines on which the water vapor or particles will be projected from the peripheries of the spreader flanges 25 when the centrifugal vaporizer made up of the conical shell or tube 2| and its blades 44 are rotated at high velocity. With the arrangement illustrated, the centrifugal atomizer will be rotated at the velocity of the rotor'of the electric motor.

Condensed water or drippings from the projected liquid will drop onto an annular rack which, as shown, is made up of a multiplicity of inclined rings 45 hung from the top of the lower casing 6 in spaced relation and of diminishing diameter so that the lowermost ring will direct the drippings into the water tank or receptacle 8.

The lower end of the elevator 2| is positioned so that it will run below the surface of the water W in tank 8 and is preferably arranged to work in a submerged cup 45 shown as set on a base made up of radial blades 41 secured on the bottom of the tank and serving to prevent a vortex of rotation of water in the body of liquid W.

In the construction illustrated, radially disposed zigzag deflecting blades 45 are interposed in the annular space between the motor casing and the shell 1. These deflecting blades 43 retard somewhat the movement of the air through the shell or casing and give the air a better chance to pick up or absorb the vaporized liquid whether the same be water or other fluid.

OMGtiOn In this description of the operation the liquid. which is atomized or vaporized, will be assumed to be water and, of course, it will be understood that the action will be substantially the same or very similar regardless of the kind of liquid that is acted upon. When the valve is raised to open port 23 and the rotary centrifugal atomizer and the fan will be rotated at high velocity, under rotation of the conical elevator 2| water which, by gravity is forced into the lower end of said elevator, will, by centrifugal force, be caused to rise in a thin fllm on the interior of said elevator and this fllm will get flner and finer as it approaches the top thereof. When the film of water reaches an elevation at the lower ends of the channel-forming flanges 21, the film will be evenly divided into a number of streams corresponding to the number of spreader flanges 25; and when these streams are thus confined in the several channels they will be delivered to and only to the corresponding flanges 25. This insures even division of the elevated fluid film. The thin stream of fluid that once enters one of the channels can not get out of that channel but must pass through one or more of the ports 26 that lead to the appropriate flange 25.

The above described arrangement causes each of the spreader flanges 25 to operate independently of the other but simultaneously therewith. Of course, the number of spreader flanges employed may be varied, but the greater the number thereof the greater will be the total atomizing or vaporizing capacity with an arrangement wherein each spreader flange is called upon to deliver only the finest kind of a spray. The spreader flanges can vary from disc-like form to the form shown in the drawings or to a form having much less flare or taper. These spreader flanges should have more flare than the body of the rotary elewater but the less flare given thereto the greater will be the retarding action of the fllm of water carried thereby, and hence, the finer spread will be the sprays discharged therefrom. With the large number of simultaneously operating spreader flanges the total volume of water elevated and discharged by the rotary elevator can be relatively large and at the same time the film of water finely divided and discharged in very thin or finely divided form by the several spreader flanges. v

The several sprays of water discharged from the spreader flanges 25 will pass through them:- wardly moving air drawn by the fan and will be largely taken up or absorbed thereby; but any water or liquid thus passed through the column of air not taken up will strike against the flat surfaces of the blades 44 of the surrounding annular bailie where water particles striking the baille blades 44 will be further taken up by the air current; but if there should be any surplus of the water particles they will drop on the rack 45 and be delivered back into the water tank 8. Any tendency toward forming of a vortex of the whirling of the water in the tank 8 by rotation of the elevator will be broken up by the movement of the water between the blades".

Air passing upward from the baiiie will be deflected to and fro by the deflecting blades 48 adjusted to which will retard the movement of the air and, give it a better chance to absorb the vapor.

The manner in which the valve 28-49 may be regulate the flow of water or liquid to the elevator, simply by manipulation of the knob 40, and without stopping rotation of the elevator, has already been noted.

Rotary elevators of the type herein described and indicated by 2i tend, when rotated at high speed in a body of supply fluid, as shown at W in Figs. 1- and 2, to set up a vortex, as before mentioned, and to throw the fluid outwardly therefrom and form an air cavitation thereabout. Of course, when such cavitation is produced, the amount of fluid which can be drawn into the conical, centrifugal elevator is materially reduced, and since this action increases with speed there comes a point under increased speed when the capacity of the device is very greatly reduced. The submerged cup-like flange l6 and its cooperating supporting radial blades 41 effectively eliminate this tendency to produce an air cavitation surrounding the submerged end of the elevator 2i and insures ample fluid supply to the elevator at all speeds. With the arrangement illustrated, a continual circulation of fluid is maintained inwardly through the radial blades H, and upwardly through the cup-like flange Mi. Of course, when the valve mechanism to the interior of the elevator is open, part of this upward flow is intothe interior of the elevator, but there is also a continuous circulation maintained between the conical elevator and the upper portion of the cup-like flange 46 which will take place even when the valve 29 is closed. This circulation is caused by the tendency of the spinning submerged portion of the elevator 2| above the upper end of the cup flange 46 to throw the fluid radially outward and produce an air cavity or pocket above the top of the cup flange into which water tends to flow upwardly to replace that fluid which has been dispelled under centrifugal action.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a rotary tubular elevator-provided at its lower end with an intake port and at its upper portion with a plurality of vertically and circumierentially' spaced outlet ports, and with vertical channels extending individually to said outlet ports from points below the respective outlet ports to which they deliver.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said channels extend downward to a common horizontal plane that is below the lowest of said outlet ports.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said tubular elevator is an upwardly flaring cone, and incombination with a liquid receptacle adapted to contain a fluid to a level above the intake port of said elevator.

4. In a device of the kind described, a rotary tubular elevator provided at its lower end with an intake port and at its upper portion with a plurality of vertically and 'circumferentially spaced outlet ports, and with vertical channels extending individually to said outlet ports from points below the respective outlet ports to which they deliver, said tubular elevator, at its upper portion, having a plurality of outwardly extending spreader flanges vertically spaced and arranged to receive fluid, each from a different outlet port.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the inlet port at the lower end of said tubular elevator is immersed in fluid.

6. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said tubular elevator is in the form of an inverted cone.

7. In a device of the kind described, a rotary tubular elevator provided at its lower end with an intake port, and provided at its upper portion with vertically and circumferentially spaced outlet ports and co-operating spreader flanges, a fluid receptacle into which the lower end of said elevator is extended, a tubular shaft extended axially through and rigidly connected to said elevator tube, a motor with a shaft connected to said tubular shaft, a valve stems):- tended through said tubular shaft and provided at its lower end with a valve head, a pin extending through said valve stem and working in slots in said tubular shaft, a collar surrounding said tubular shaft and engaged by the projecting ends of said pin, a keeper in which said collar is rotatably mounted, a lever pivoted at one end and intermediately pivoted to said keeper, said lever having a forked free end, and a manually operated shaft journaled in fixed bearings and provided with an eccentric operated on the forked end of said lever.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the shaft of' said motor is vertically extended and is provided at its upper end with a fan, the said mechanism being enclosed in a surrounding casing through which air will be drawn by said fan. i

9. In a device of the kind described, a rotary tubular elevator provided at its lower end with an intake port, and constructed and designed to project a fluid spray from its upper portion, a valve stem working vertically and axially through said elevator and provided at its lower end with a valve head arranged to open and close the intake port of said elevator, and/manually operated means for adjusting said valve stem and head'while said elevator is being rotated, said manually operated means involves a collar rotatable with, but vertically movable in respect to said tubular elevator, a non-rotary keeper in which said collar rotates, a lever pivoted and connected to said keeper, and an eccentric operated on the free end 01 said lever and having a hand piece connected for operating the same.

10. In a device of the kind described, an upright rotary fluid elevator that is provided with an intake port at its lower end and with discharge passages at its upper portion, a liquid container into which the lower end 01' saideleans-1,410

ately below the open bottom of said cup and 1 provided with radially extended blades.

HANS A. KJOB. 

